annuity

[uh-noo-i-tee, uh-nyoo-] /əˈnu ɪ ti, əˈnyu-/
noun, plural annuities.
1.
a specified income payable at stated intervals for a fixed or a contingent period, often for the recipient's life, in consideration of a stipulated premium paid either in prior installment payments or in a single payment.
2.
the right to receive such an income, or the duty to make such a payment or payments.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English < Anglo-French annuité, annualté < Medieval Latin annuitās, equivalent to Latin annu(us) yearly (derivative of annus year) + -itās -ity
Related forms
superannuity, noun, plural superannuities.
Examples from the web for annuity
  • Risks are few, if you buy a fixed-rate annuity from a top-rated insurance company.
  • Deferred compensation and supplemental tax-sheltered annuity programs also available.
  • Indeed, you can go into the market any day and buy an individual pension called an annuity.
  • On-line is great for annuity revenue and eliminating the problems of limited shelf-space.
  • The technical word for the financial instrument that accomplishes this feat is an annuity.
  • So annuity rates or government bond yields are the appropriate measure for discounting liabilities.
  • Investors may soon hear a lot about an annuity that promises risk-free growth.
  • Benefits are linked to annuity rates, protecting both the scheme and the pensioners from annuity risk.
  • The principal from the mortgages is distributed in a series of lump sum payments or an annuity.
  • But companies that got into the variable annuity market early may suffer, because early pricing models were too optimistic.
British Dictionary definitions for annuity

annuity

/əˈnjuːɪtɪ/
noun (pl) -ties
1.
a fixed sum payable at specified intervals, esp annually, over a period, such as the recipient's life, or in perpetuity, in return for a premium paid either in instalments or in a single payment
2.
the right to receive or the duty to pay such a sum
Word Origin
C15: from French annuité, from Medieval Latin annuitās, from Latin annuusannual
Word Origin and History for annuity
n.

early 15c., "a yearly allowance, grant payable in annual installments," from Anglo-French and Old French annuité (14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin annuitatem (nominative annuitas), from Latin annus "year" (see annual (adj.)). Meaning "an investment that entitles one to equal annual payments" is from 1690s.

annuity in Culture
annuity [(uh-nooh-uh-tee)]

A sum of money payable yearly or at regular intervals.

Note: Many people's retirement funds are set up to be paid in annuities.